Winter storm impacts Quebec & Ontario

Freezing Rain Warning: 
Southern Quebec including metro Montreal.
Winter Storm Warning: St Lawrence Valley and Eastern Ontario.

Heavy snow slowed the morning commute to a crawl in Montreal this morning.

The forecast is on track for southern Quebec today, as deepening low pressure continues to move along the spine of the Appalachians into northern New York and eventually southern Quebec. Heavy snow this morning has occurred along a line from Montreal north and west, with freezing rain south and east into the Townships. Already a good 10cm of snow has fallen in Montreal, with another 5-10cm quite possible. Heavy snow is forecast all day for points north and west of the city including Ottawa where 30cm is forecast. Steady snow is also impacting the 401 corridor towards Cornwall and Kingston with very poor travel conditions reported.

In Montreal the snow should mix with and change to steady freezing rain by noon as the temperatures warm from -7C (19F) to 0C (32F) for the daytime high. Significant freezing rain is forecast with 10-20mm of ice likely in Montreal. The freezing rain will make driving and waking difficult and could lead to power outages. Winds will pick up in Montreal this afternoon gusting from 40-70km/h. It is unlikely that the temperature will rise above freezing today in the St. Lawrence Valley. The precipitation has meant a long and very slow commute in Montreal. There are also dozens of school closings and delays at Turdeau Airport. The storm will taper off by midnight with a low of -3C (27F) tonight.